Perfect Alliance beats Bee A Magician in world record

What would it take for a horse to put an end to world champion Bee A Magician’s 18-race winning streak? Why a world record performance of course and that is what Perfect Alliance trotted in to beat Bee A Magician Monday night at Woodbine Racecourse in a $30,000 opening round division of the Miss Versatility Series for older mares.

The race began with Frau Blucher (Tim Tetrick) shooting like she was on fire out to the lead from post seven and following her was Perfect Alliance and driver Yannick Gingras, who was able to take the lead away by the opening quarter mile in a speedy :26.3.

They raced Indian-style to the half mile in :55.1 with Bee A Magician and Brian Sears staking the leaders until the three-quarter mile marker in 1:23.4. Sears than had Bee A Magician on the move on the outside but it looked to be a little too late at that point.

Coming down the stretch Gingras had Perfect Alliance in full stride and no one was going to catch her tonight. Sears was able to weave his way around Frau Blucher and closed well in her first start back this year, but was no match for Perfect Alliance, who won by one and one-quarter lengths in world record time of 1:51.2. D’Orsay (Sylvain Filion) was third.

Unbeaten in 2014 with her tenth straight win, Perfect Alliance is trained by Julie Miller. The four-year-old mare by Credit Winner is co-owned by Little E, LLC, Jason Settlemoir, David Stotz and Arthur Geiger. She paid $4.70 to win as the second choice in the race. Bee A Magician was the fan favorite at 3/5.

Perfect Alliance set the world records with her 1:51.2 victory. She is now the fastest older mare in harness racing history, surpassing the previous mark of 1:51.4 that was co-held by Beat The Wheel (1994); Peaceful Way (2005), Queen Serene (2007) and D’Orsay (2013). The only record left that she could beat now is that of 1:51 that was set last year by none other than Bee A Magician.

In the third race $30,000 first preliminary division, Classic Martine and driver Tim Tetrick did not disappoint anyone as they were recipients of a golden two-hole trip and responded with an easy four length triumph in a speedy 1:52.2.

Tetrick left out of the gate from the rail with Classic Martine and got to the lead with ease. Charmed Life and driver Jody Jamieson came right at them after the opening quarter mile in :27 and was parked out past the half mile marker in :57 before they finally cleared. Charmed Life then led to the three-quarters in 1:25.

Then with no one able to mount any sort of a challenge on the outside, Tetrick waited with Classic Martine until the stretch and then blew right by Charmed Life for the easy win. Rockin with Dewey (Mario Baillargeon) was second with Upfrontluckycarol (Stephen Condren) third

Currently undefeated in 2014 with her third straight win, Classic Martine is trained by Chris Oakes. The four-year-old daughter of Classic Photo is owned by Hauser Brothers Racing, Susan Oakes and Edwin Gold. She paid $3.20 to win.